By Yemi Alesh
It is no gainsaying that the pandemic has taken its toll on everyone. Persons who are not directly affected by the loss of a loved one or of their health or of a job, would have encountered some difficulties with the total lockdown of activities across nearly all countries of the world. With the incidence of COVID-19 lockdown came anxieties and uncertainties about the turn of events in the future. Students’ learning was discontinued; companies’ earnings were short-changed and each and every individual lost connection with certain close friends and family. With the financial and social consequences of the pandemic lockdown, emotional and mental problems followed suit.
In Nigeria, the outbreak of the pandemic in February 2020 only aggravated rising mental health challenges in the country. Due to the prevalence of poverty, unemployment and insecurity in the country, many are plagued with one mental disorder or the other. In a research conducted by published by Abayomi Olaseni, Olusola Akinsola, Samson Agberotimi and Rotimi Oguntayo, it was found that the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological distress for Nigerians. Evidently, there is need for urgent response to the rising challenge.
It was the realization of the foregoing that propelled the organization of a mental health workshop, titled, “Unashamed” by Trawlr X. The workshop which was held at American Corner, Jericho, Ibadan on Saturday, March 20th, 2021 was targeted at young creatives in the city. The founder of Trawlr X, Yinka Seth said that based on popular belief, creatives are deep thinkers, and are therefore prone to depression, amidst other mental issues. He also said that it was in a bid to encourage them to speak more openly about their emotional and mental challenges towards a healing process that the workshop was organized.
The workshop featured questions and answers session with Mr. Seye, a psychotherapist who addressed different mental awareness issues raised by the participants. Other activities included poetry recitation, musical performance, breathing exercises and yoga.
Trawlr X was founded in January, 2021 as a literary hub with focus on sourcing and grooming young creatives. It also helps to publish works by creatives on its online platform. Targeted creatives include writers, singers, actors, among other artists.
